Advocacy group accuses Gov. Deal of using secret money against Obamacare

ATLANTA (CBS46) -

A progressive advocacy group accused Gov. Nathan Deal of secretly funneling nearly $1 million into a political action committee to fight the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

Better Georgia said healthcare corporations contributed to Real PAC, a Republican action committee, as they attempted to buy influence with the governor in their fight against Obamacare.

Bryan Long, Better Georgia's executive director, said the governor used that money to oppose the Affordable Care Act.

"He's fighting that with money from the corporations who don't want change, and he wasn't honest about that," Long said.

Some of the biggest contributions come from healthcare, according to Real PAC's disclosure forms.

United Healthcare gave $20,000, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia donated $25,000 and Wellcare of Georgia gave $50,000.

"The 650,000 Georgians who can't afford healthcare, they certainly can't afford to put money into his PAC but the corporations did, and the governor is fighting for them instead of the Georgians who can't afford healthcare," long said.

Randy Evans, Deal's attorney, called the allegation "ridiculous. The people who contributed to that PAC didn't get favorable treatment."

Evans said some of those companies are suing the state, saying they were passed over for contracts.

When asked if the governor funneled nearly $1 million from Real PAC to oppose the healthcare act, Evans answered "no. Not at all. It's actually a different PAC. Its purposes are to support all Republican candidates."

Evans said, while the governor does influence Real PAC, he is not officially connected to it.

When asked if Deal has a secret PAC, Evans responded, "if it was secret, you wouldn't be here."

Evans said Deal did nothing wrong and that he voluntarily requested Real PAC disclose the contributions even though he was not required to do so.